नमस्ते रुद्ररूपाय रसानां पतये नमः
Salutations to the one of Rudra's form, salutations to the lord of the waters.
यावज्जन्म कृतं पापं मया जन्मसु सप्तसु
Whatever sin I have committed since birth, through seven lifetimes,
जननी सर्वभूतानां सप्तमी सप्तसप्तिके
The seventh day, the mother of all beings, is called Saptami among the seven sevens.
जलोपरितरं दीपं स्नात्वा संतर्प्य देवताः
After bathing, offer a lamp floating on water and satisfy the deities.
मध्ये शर्वं सपत्नीकं प्रणवेन तु पूजयेत्
In the center, one should worship Śarva together with his consort, using the praṇava (Om).
याम्ये विवस्वान्नैर्ऋत्ये भास्करस्येति पूजयेत्
In the southern direction, one should worship Vivasvān, and in the southwest, Bhāskara.
सौम्ये सहस्रकिरणः शेषे सर्वात्मनेति च
In the northwest, the thousand-rayed one; in the northeast, the all-pervading one.
पुष्पैः सुगन्धधूपैश्च वस्त्रेणाच्छाद्य भास्करम् 4.53.
Having covered Bhāskara with cloth, one should offer fragrant flowers and incense.
ताम्रपात्रे सुविस्तीर्णे मृन्मये वा युधिष्ठिर
O Yudhiṣṭhira, in a wide copper vessel or an earthen one,
काञ्चनं तालकं कृत्वा ह्यसिक्तस्तिलचूर्णकम्
Having made a golden tālaka and sprinkled it with sesame powder,
ततस्तं ब्राह्मणे दद्याद्दत्त्वा मंत्रेण तालकम्
Then, having given the tālaka with a mantra, one should give it to a brāhmaṇa.
दुष्टदौर्भाग्यदुःखेभ्यो मया दत्तं तु तालकम्
This tālaka, given by me, is for the removal of misfortune, poverty, and suffering.
सपुत्रपशुभृत्याय मेऽर्कोयं प्रीयतामिति
May this Sun be pleased with me, along with my sons, cattle, and servants.
विप्रानन्यान्यथाशक्त्या पूजयित्वा गृहं व्रजेत्
Having worshipped the brāhmaṇas and others according to one's ability, one should return home.
अचलासप्तमीस्नानं सर्वकामफलप्रदम्
The bath on the seventh day of the unmoving (Acalā Saptamī) grants all desired results.
इति पठति य इत्थं यः शृणोति प्रसंगात्कलिकलुषहरं वै सप्त मीस्नानमेतत्
Whoever recites or hears this account, the bath on the seventh day surely removes the sins of the Kali age.
बुधाष्टमीव्रतवर्णनम् येन चीर्णेन नरकं नरः पश्यति न क्वचित्
Description of the Budhāṣṭamī vow: By performing it, a person never sees hell anywhere.
पुरा कृतयुगस्यादौ इलो राजा बभूव ह
Long ago, at the beginning of the Kṛta Yuga, there was a king named Ila.
जगाम हिमवत्पार्श्वे महादेवेन वारितः
He went to the side of the Himavat, having been turned away by Mahādeva.
स राजा मृगसंगेन प्राविशत्तदुमावने
That king, accompanied by deer, entered that forest of Umā.
सा बभ्राम वने शून्ये पीनोन्नतपयोधरा
She wandered in the empty forest, her breasts full and high.
तां ददर्श बुधः सौम्यां रूपौदार्यगुणान्विताम्
Budha saw her, gentle and endowed with beauty, nobility, and virtues.
दधौ गर्भं तदुदरे इलाया रूपतोषितः
He placed an embryo in her womb, having been pleased with Ilā's form.
चंद्रवंशकरो राजा आद्यः सर्वमहीक्षिताम्
The king, originator of the lunar dynasty, was the first among all rulers of the earth.
सर्वपापप्रशमनी सर्वोपद्रवनाशिनी
She is the remover of all sins, the destroyer of all calamities.
आसीद्राजा विदेहानां मिथिलायां स वैरिभिः 4.54.
There was a king of Videha, in Mithilā, beset by enemies.
ऊर्मिला नाम बभ्राम महीं बालकसंयुता
A woman named Ūrmilā wandered the earth, accompanied by a child.
चकारोदरपूर्त्यर्थं नित्यं कंडनपेषणे
She constantly ground and pounded for the sake of filling her belly.
कारुण्यान्मातृवात्सल्यात्क्षुधासंपीड्यमानयोः
Out of compassion, motherly affection, and being afflicted by hunger,
पुत्रस्तस्या विदेहायां गत्वा स्वपितुरासने
Her son, in Videha, went and sat upon his father's seat.